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止まる
tomaru
to stop
電車が駅で止まりました。
The train stopped at the station.
general
To come to a stop; to halt.
車が急に止まった。
The car stopped suddenly.
Often used for vehicles, machinery, or actions coming to a halt.
general
To be blocked or obstructed (e.g., traffic, flow).
道が渋滞で止まっている。
The road is stopped due to traffic congestion.
Can describe physical or metaphorical blockages.
general
To pause or wait (e.g., time, progress).
時間が止まったように感じた。
I felt like time had stopped.
Used metaphorically for moments of stillness or suspension.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Intransitive vs. Transitive
Remember that '止まる' is intransitive (e.g., '車が止まる' = 'The car stops'), while '止める' is transitive (e.g., '車を止める' = 'to stop the car').
Gold Rule
Common Usage
'止まる' is often used for natural or automatic stopping, while '止める' is used for deliberate stopping.
Word Origin
From the verb '止める' (to stop), with the intransitive form '止まる' indicating something coming to a stop on its own.
Usage Notes
'止まる' is intransitive (the subject stops itself), while '止める' is transitive (the subject stops something else).
Word Breakdown
止
to stop
rootまる
intransitive verb ending
suffix和英辞典